There is an organisation on
Archive.org called the "Old Time Radio Researchers Group". In general, they do the BEST job of obtaining the finest sounding episodes, organising and researching dates and general episode data. I suggest all Archive users first sample their efforts to assemble a FULL Dragnet library of the best sounding examples. This will save you a lot of time.
However, there are always a few episodes that are difficult to find in high quality audio. I was able to find one or two superior sounding episodes in this collection, but it required some effort.
I started to collect old radio when I was about 12 (over 50 years ago!). I STILL occasionally find a better source for a episode of Dimension X, Dragnet, Theater Five, Suspense, X Minus One, etc. If only I could find the missing Spy Catcher episodes!
Q: What was the first "Reality Radio Programme"?
A: Nightwatch. (Nightwatch broke the Laws of Evidence far more than Dragnet!)
Dragnet was probably the first police-based radio programme in America that made an effort to produce shows of higher dramatic quality, better acting and writing than other shows. Jack Webb may have been the finest self narrating, hard-boiled detective in the history of radio. —
I.e., the quintessential hard boiled, self narrating, morally conscious, unconventional detective. —
E.g. Jeff Reagan and Pat Novak are two great Jack Webb characters. Both of whom were essential to create the character of Sgt. Joe Friday.
In real life, Jack Webb had strong moral convictions against racism, and the unfair Jim Crow system practise by much of America at that time. By contemporary standards and those of today, Jack Webb was/is considered a "bleeding heart liberal". —
E.g., For no salary, Jack Webb made many radio programmes pointing out America's desperate civil rights situation. Listen to Webb's self produced and written programmes, "One Out of Seven". Note, that Webb plays ALL of the characters!
Webb voice was as flexible as Orson Wells, Stan Freberg, Daws Butler, Ken Nordine, Wendell Holmes, Jack Grimes, Ian Martin, Elspith Eric, Ralph Morgan, etc. Webb was also a major supporter of F.D.R., The New Deal and Lend Lease. Jack Webb was far ahead of his time!
Ironically, If Jack Webb had NOT been the star of Dragnet, I suspect he would have been black-listed as a Communist by The HUAC Congressional Committee! Jack Webb, despite what many people think, was an early, ardent and progressive advocate for universal civil rights in America. Webb freely performed, gratis, in the service of the government, —usually to promote F.D.R.'s progressive civil rights agenda, Lend Lease, War bond drives, and other civil rights causes.
As for Dragnet's failing to have its main characters abide by Constitution and local laws, one must not forget that Dragnet necessarily drew its legal information from the LA Police Force, —DIRECTLY from the office of, the infamous & controversial, William H. Parker, Chief of LA's Police force. William Parker was infamous for practices, that today, are universally seen as racist, biased, unconstitutional, and just plain vicious and mean (Parker was The LA Police Chief from 1950 to 1966). Parker was particularly known for his cruelty, brutality and racism towards all minorities of colour. —
E.g., Parker's vicious & illegal methods of destroying the Latino communities of Chavez Ravine so that the new LA Dodger stadium could be built without respecting the Constitutional Rights if the Chavez Ravine population was but one collective crime of injustice that Chief Parker committed.
Even prior to Parker's long tenure as Police Chief, he was high up in the force, and significantly influential as an Inspector and Deputy Chief. This power allowed Chief Parker to create one of the most flagrantly illegal and abusive policing environments in America.
This illegal policing climate continued, nearly unabated until O.J. Simpson was acquitted of two ghastly murders because the Chain of Evidence had been intentionally broken by a police force that knew no other methods. To this day, the policing environment that William Parker fostered, STILL retains a legacy that is partially active! —
E.g., The brutal and disastrous murder of George Floyd is a direct descendent of William H. Parker's influence. Alas, with each horrible act, Chief Parker's legacy is thankfully being obliterated. I pray that George Floyd's murder is the last of Chief Parker we shall see...
It is curious how Jack Webb could have played the role of Joe Friday under these conditions. However, I believe Webb felt he was helping the situation by depicting how a professional, honest and decent Police Detective SHOULD behave. At the time Dragnet was initially proposed, Webb could have easily turned down the part and likely would have had a more diverse and successful theatrical career! Much to Webb's dismay, Dragnet clearly type-cast Jack Webb.
Dragnet was, perhaps, THE most popular dramatic programme on American radio and many of the LAPD officers surely listened to the programme. Webb could have had only a positive influence on many of the officer's listening to the programme.
NOTE: There is a challenging and humorous game that modern law students, lawyers and police play when listening to Dragnet. The game simply requires the player to count the number of times, in a particular episode, that Sgt. Joe Friday and his partner violate the law. —
E.g., Denying a suspect's Constitutional rights, by gathering evidence illegally, extracting confessions, denial of counsel, etc.
Remember that the absence of probable cause and the lack of an arrest or search warrantwmeant that any evidence gathered was inadmissible in a court of law. Moreover, any prosecutorial evidence produced by the illegal gathering of evidence is necessarily inadmissible to the D.A. or The Court.
How many times does Sgt Friday gain entry to an unwilling suspect's home, WITHOUT a proper warrant, signed by a judge, simply by saying to the suspect, "If you are innocent then you have no reason to worry"; —immediately after saying this, without waiting for the suspect to respond, both Sgt. Friday and his Partner shove open the suspect's door and proceed to perform a thorough search of the entire premises!! This was, in fact, a technique TAUGHT to all police officers during their training! Ultimately, such practices could not withstand the scrutiny of the Supreme Court and fell from use. There are MANY other illegal practises (as per the law, circa 1950) that Sgt. Friday and his partner practised. At the time, they seemed OK to the average listener, but, in fact, were blatantly illegal practises!
So, I challenge ALL listeners of this great and entertaining programme, to have a go at playing this game! I forewarn you that it is not always so clear to the average citizen and that some of the illegal practises are still used today. Look for illegally gained confessions, evidence without warrant, no probable cause, and, most importantly, vital clues that are gained by violating The Constitution!
For those of you whom have heard every Dragnet episode, perhaps, this is a way to have another listen and find further enjoyment of the programme?
.NJOY!